A sad-faced horse plush toy has become a viral hit in China just before Lunar New Year celebrations for the year of the horse. The 'crying horse' was first made by accident when a worker sewed a smile upside down, said Zhang Huoqing, owner of the Happy Sister shop in Yiwu city. Zhang expected to refund the first buyer, but soon the toy’s image caught fire online, and sales soared. Zhang explained that the gloomy horse matches the mood of many young Chinese workers. "A lot of customers like it, and they said it makes sense: that it suits the spirit of today's corporate slaves," she said. "This crying horse really fits the reality of modern working people." People joked the crying horse shows how you feel at work, while the smiling one shows how you look after work. Zhang's factory is now making more toys to keep up with demand, including orders from abroad. One online buyer, Tuan Tuan Mami, told the South China Morning Post, "This little horse looks so sad and pitiful, just like the way I feel at work. With this crying toy in the Year of the Horse, I hope to leave all my grievances at work behind and keep only happiness." The toy stands about 20cm tall, costs 25 yuan (£2.62), and is red for good luck. It has a golden collar with a bell and the phrase "money comes quickly" stitched in gold letters. Another Yiwu shop owner, Lou Zhenxian, said she found the toy ugly but understands its emotional appeal. She said young people feel like the crying horse when working and like the smiling horse after work. She added, "I believe you should work hard when at work and be happy after work, it shouldn't be two extreme opposites." The Lunar New Year falls in February and will welcome the year of the horse, part of the 12 animal Chinese zodiac cycle.